Alao-Arisekola’s son to remain in EFCC custody

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Monday refused to grant bail to Abdullahi Alao and Olanrewaju Olafusi in their on-going trial over alleged involvement in fuel subsidy fraud.

The court, however, granted bail to co- defendant, Opeyemi Ajuyah, one of the oil marketers standing trial alongside Alao.

Alao and Olafusi are to remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission pending the hearing of their bail application on Wednesday, October 17.

Abdullahi is the son of Ibadan-based businessman, Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu granted Ajuyah bail in the sum of N75m with two sureties in like sum after the hearing of her bail application.

Justice Okunnu could not grant bail to Alao and Olafusi because the EFCC sought for time to file counter-affidavits to their applications.

She, however, fixed October 17 for the hearing of their applications after the accused pleaded not guilty to the eight- count charge of fraud.

Following the application for “abridgement of time” filed by the defendants, the court re-scheduled the hearing of the application for Wednesday.

Alao’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Akoni (SAN) questioned the failure of the EFCC to respond to his client’s application while it did to the applications of other defendants since they all served their separate applications on the EFCC on the same day.

Akoni urged the court for a short adjournment by which time which he expects that the commission would have filed their opposition to their applications.

Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who led Ajuwah’s defence team, had alleged that EFCC’s counter-affidavit to her bail application was speculative.

Ruling on her bail application, Okunnu said EFCC’s “assertion that she will jump bail is bereft of any evidence.”

Chief Falana, I want to believe that very soon you will be defending Armed Robbers /Kidnappers.But this was never apparent before you became a SAN ,to take up this type of case.

ManofGod

A lawyer can defend army robbers because it’s only court who will proof to army that he is guilty of his crime and his lawyer will be put to shame. Falana can also loose the case if efcc are very serious with the matter at hand